Read the following sentences write whether each underlined clause is the main clause or a subordinate clause
The words in () are the underlined clause.
We studied the Mayan calender, (which I thought was fascinating)
subordinate
Lyndon B. Johnson, (who was born in Stonewall,) became a president in 1963.
Subordinate
(I felt a thrill) when i solved the difficult math problem.
main
After they played basketball (the boys went home for dinner)
Main
Hunter picked a report topic ( that turned out to be difficult)
subordinate
Right! :-)
To determine whether each underlined clause is the main clause or a subordinate clause, you can follow these steps:
1. Identify the subject and verb of the underlined clause.
2. Determine if the underlined clause can stand alone as a complete sentence or if it depends on the main clause to make sense.
Let's apply these steps to each sentence:
Sentence 1: "We studied the Mayan calendar, (which I thought was fascinating)."
- Subject and verb of the underlined clause: "I thought"
- The underlined clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence, so it depends on the main clause ("We studied the Mayan calendar") to make sense.
- The underlined clause is a subordinate clause.
Sentence 2: "Lyndon B. Johnson, (who was born in Stonewall,) became a president in 1963."
- Subject and verb of the underlined clause: "who was born"
- The underlined clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence, so it depends on the main clause ("Lyndon B. Johnson became a president in 1963") to make sense.
- The underlined clause is a subordinate clause.
Sentence 3: "(I felt a thrill) when I solved the difficult math problem."
- Subject and verb of the underlined clause: "I felt"
- The underlined clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, expressing a complete thought.
- The underlined clause is the main clause.
Sentence 4: "After they played basketball (the boys went home for dinner)."
- Subject and verb of the underlined clause: "the boys went"
- The underlined clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, expressing a complete thought.
- The underlined clause is the main clause.
Sentence 5: "Hunter picked a report topic (that turned out to be difficult)."
- Subject and verb of the underlined clause: "that turned"
- The underlined clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence, so it depends on the main clause ("Hunter picked a report topic") to make sense.
- The underlined clause is a subordinate clause.